"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen"
(Hebrews
11:1, NIV).

When Garibaldi published that famous
proclamation to his soldiers after the storming of Rome, 'Soldiers! I have
nothing to offer you but hunger, thirst, hardship, death. Let all who love
their country follow me!' he knew many a gallant youth would follow him,
accepting hunger, and thirst, and death."A. Gordon Nasby, ed.,
Treasury of the Christian World (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1953),
p. 92. Unlike Garibaldi's, Jesus' call was not for love of country but for
love of God, a call thatthough possibly involving hunger, thirst, hardship,
and deathalso offers the promise of eternal life. Thus, people then
and now accept His call to follow and to commit their lives to Him, and by
so doing make a difference in this world now and for eternity.

This week we will take another look at the earliest calls to discipleship,
and seek to glean from them lessons for ourselves.

This Week at a
Glance:

What were the first calls to discipleship like? What role did Scripture
have in those calls? What can we learn from the call of Levi Matthew? Despite
many differences, what are some of the common elements found in the call
to discipleship? What advantages do we have today over the early disciples?

1. How did John the Baptist help set the stage for the call
of these first disciples? From what John did, what can we learn for ourselves
and for our mission as a people?

2. How central were the Scriptures to the people's
willingness to follow Jesus? What message is there for us?

3. What role do we see for the disciples in calling others
to follow Jesus? What does that tell us about our own calling?

4. What did Jesus do to help Nathanael overcome his prejudice?

After Andrew spent a little time with Jesus, he not only believed that Jesus
was the Messiah, but he immediately did what the Master expects every disciple
to do: Spread the joy of discipleship. Andrew seemed to have understood a
vital principle of discipleship: It is neither for private use nor, does
it belong to a gated community or an exclusive club. Rather, it is an experience
that must be shared with others.

From Andrew's response to discipleship, a pattern emerges. Andrew heard John
speak and followed Jesus. Next, he told his brother Peter of his experience
and brought him to Jesus, and Peter became a follower as well.

In the same way, we hear the truth about Jesus, make a commitment to follow
Him, and then tell others about Jesus. This is repeated day by day, all over
the world.

If you were to tell someone about Jesus, what would you say? How deep
is your experience with the Lord? What would you say about Jesus that could
make someone be interested in following Him?

MONDAY

January 14

The First Call in Matthew and
Mark

In
Matthew
4:18-22 and
Mark
1:16-20, we are given other perspectives on this first call. In both
examples, those He called dropped their nets and followed Him. What does
that mean?

This is not the only time and place this principle is found in the Bible.

Look
up the following texts. How do we see the same principle
being manifested here, however different the circumstances?

The point cannot be repeated enough: The Lord demands the whole heart. That
which we do not surrender to Him, that which we cling to, refusing to give
up, becomes an idol, something we deem more important than the Lord. What
is worse, those things we cling to become the hooks the devil uses to wean
us away from the Lord completely. That is why we must be willing to forsake
anything and everything the Lord asks us to. We cannot, as He said, "serve
two masters"
(Matt.
6:24).

TUESDAY

January 15

The Call in Luke

Luke
5:1-11 contains Luke's version of the disciples' call story. As with
the other Gospel accounts, it brings in elements not found in other Gospels,
while omitting elements found in others. Some claim that the accounts are,
therefore, contradictory. Instead, careful scrutiny usually resolves any
issues, showing simply that despite the different details or emphasis, the
accounts harmonize, especially on the crucial points.

Read
Luke
5:1-11. What indications are there that Peter already had some faith
in Jesus?

Think about it. They had fished all night, when fishing was the best, and
caught nothing. Jesus then comes along and tells them to let the net into
the water. Is He joking? If we did not catch anything all night, how are
we going to in the day? Yet for some reason, Peter listens. Did he already
have reasons to trust in Jesus?

What
was Peter's response? How does that response, in many
ways, capture the essence of discipleship and the everlasting gospel?Isa.
53:6,
Rom.
5:16-21,
1
John 1:7-9.

Despite our fallen natures, despite our faults and our weaknesses, despite
the fact that we, like Peter, are sinful, God does not abandon us. How natural
it would be for any of us, in the presence of the Divine, to say, "Depart
from me." Under the blood of the Cross, we can abide in the presence of God.
Under the blood of the cross, we can be His disciples.

Dwell on what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Dwell on the promises of
acceptance, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God because of the Cross.
Claim the promises made to you, not because you feel worthy of them (was
Peter?), but because God has promised them, and you want to take Him at His
Word.

WEDNESDAY

January 16

The Call of Levi Matthew

Read
Matthew
9:9,
Mark
2:14, and
Luke
5:27, 28. Compare the call of Levi Matthew with that of the other early
disciples. What are the similarities and the differences between the call
of Levi Matthew and the other disciples so far?

Up to this point, those Jesus called to discipleship were apparently devout
Jews, as
John
1:44, 45 implies. The call to Levi Matthew, however, comes to one on
the fringes of society. He was a publican and, as such, was deemed among
the worst of society by the Jews.

Matthew was the most unlikely candidate for a call to discipleship. First,
he was called from the tax collector's booth. Roman writers linked these
people with brothel keepers; the rabbis classed them with robbers. They were
seen as extortionists
(Luke
3:12, 13), notoriously dishonest and universally hated, especially
since they were Jews who defrauded their countrymen for the enemy and also
swindled the government.

How unlikely that one with such a character and a reputation should have
been called to discipleship by Jesus! Yet, that is precisely what happened.
Christ's call here speaks to the universality of the salvation He brought,
the inclusiveness of His kingdom, and His willingness to give all a chance
at salvation.

Who are some in your own society that are deemed outcasts, socially
and morally unacceptable? What kind of attitude do you have toward those
people? What can we learn, from the story of Levi Matthew's call, about not
being too quick to pass judgment upon others?

THURSDAY

January 17

The Calling

Based
on what we have looked at this week (and in previous
weeks) about the call to discipleship, what special message can we find for
ourselves in
Hebrews
11:1?

The amazing thing about the response of these disciples to Christ's call
was how little they must have known about what was coming, about what they
were getting into by leaving everything and following the Master.

Though, as we saw this week, they had some biblical evidence at that time
for believing that Jesus was the Messiah
(John
1:45), a study of the Gospels reveals how much of the work and ministry
of Jesus was still unknown to them, especially the most important part of
His work: His death on the cross. As we know, right up until the end, and
even after, they had grave misconceptions about what was to come.

Think about the advantages that we, as modern-day disciples, have over those
early disciples, especially right at the time they were first called. Sure,
they got to witness many incredible miracles, but at the same time they did
not know what we know about the work, the mission, and the ultimate triumph
of what Christ was to accomplish. And yet, despite this, they moved ahead
in faith, the kind of faith revealed in
Hebrews
11:1.

Are you weak in faith? Could it be the things you are watching, the things
you are thinking about, the things you are devoting your time to? What proactive
steps can you take, right now, that will help your faith grow?

"Here were the four partners, in possession of the largest catch of fish
they had ever brought to shore. At the moment of their greatest material
success they abandoned their business.... Even in view of the higher significance
of the miracle it must have taken a real measure of faith to leave their
chosen occupation for an uncertain livelihood as followers of an itinerant
teacher who, up to this time, had apparently had small success. . . . On
the part of the disciples there was not the least hesitancy. The decision
to dissolve their successful partnership as fishermen for a higher partnership
with Jesus as fishers of men was made instantly and intelligently. They needed
no time to think things over, no time to provide for the needs of their
families.... They had launched out into the deep as ordinary fishermen; when
they returned to shore they launched out by faith into the 'deep' to which
Christ now called them, to fish for men."The SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 5, p. 739.

Discussion
Questions:

In what ways do you need to rearrange your priorities
so that you can glorify God more effectively and be more consistent in your
discipleship?

In reference to Thursday's lesson, what are the advantages that we today
have over the disciples? What are the things that we know about that they
did not? Make a list of these things and bring them to class. Discuss what
you each find and then ask yourselves: What are we doing with these advantages
to help us grow in grace ourselves?, How can these advantages help us go
out and make disciples?

Dwell more on the question regarding the call of Levi Matthew. In
class discuss the question of prejudice against certain groups. What about
your church as a whole? What groups of people are deemed outcasts in your
society? How can you minister to them? So often churches reflect the culture
around them, including the prejudices of that culture. How open are you to
the Matthews of your own society? What can you do to help your own church
overcome this terrible symptom of fallen human nature?

I
N S I D E
Story

Growing God's Church

by OD

I remember the day well. My cousin Tulga and I were chatting in his home
in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He started talking about Jesus and invited me to
visit a Bible study he attended. I decided to go.

I really enjoyed the small group meeting in someone's apartment and attended
whenever I could. My new friends were different from other people I knew.
I felt safe there; no one was trying to hurt me or make me look bad. I began
to come out of my shell.

The Bible texts they read were powerful and seemed directed straight at me.
The principles I learned helped me deal with issues in my life. I began reading
the Bible on my own, and I could see my life changing.

Tulga told me that Sabbath was the day God had set aside as holy, that humans
changed the day of worship to Sunday. I realized he was right, that my church
didn't teach the Bible as Adventists did. I eventually started attending
the Adventist church. After months of deep Bible study, I joined the Adventist
Church.

I love music and play the guitar and the piano. At first I wanted to introduce
the livelier music that had drawn me to the Sunday church into the Adventist
church. But my new church family helped me realize that some of this music
was not appropriate to worship.

I joined a singing group that sang several styles of music-classical,
traditional, and some modern. But all the music focused on Jesus. I realized
that through our music we can touch people who don't know Jesus yet, and
we can share our faith with other Christians.

God gave me musical talent, and I want to use it to build up the young church
in Mongolia. I have translated some Christian songs into Mongolian and teach
them to new groups.

Recently I helped some Korean young people, hold evangelistic meetings in
Mongolia. After they left, I was shocked to learn that someone wanted to
sponsor me to study theology in Korea. I had finished high school and had
planned to attend a university in Mongolia and study mechanical engineering.
But I understand that this is God's will, and I am thrilled.

I used to look forward to being older and having authority and power. But
now I realize that God is challenging the young people of Mongolia to use
their talents for Him while they are young.

Your mission offerings have had a huge impact on growing the church in Mongolia.
Thank you for your support.

OD is studying theology in Korea and will return to Mongolia to minister
to his people.